Due to explicit language, we recommend listeners be over 18.
Summary
On this very raw episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Victoria Dickerson chat with repeat guest and serial entrepreneur Deric Calhill, founder of Wicked BOLD, a company that crafts small-batch, all-organic vegan chocolate utilizing ethically sourced cacao and just four other real ingredients. Deric founded Wicked BOLD chocolate with his wife Brooklynn in 2019 after years of not being able to find a dairy-free chocolate. Now, four years later, Wicked BOLD has flourished and is being sold in Wal-Mart, Whole Foods, and Sprouts stores nationwide. Throughout the episode, Deric discusses his success on social media, the multiple books he’s authored: Zero to Side Hustle and Have You Ever Had a Silly Idea?, and how wealth doesn’t always mean that you’re happy or that you’re making conscious money.
Show Notes
(0:52) Introducing Deric Calhill
(1:15) Wicked BOLD’s Origin Story
(11:14) Deric’s Social Media Strategy
(17:05) About Zero to Side Hustle
(23:44) Redefining Wealth
(31:28) Being Able to Trust Yourself
(36:59) Advice to Younger Self
(41:12) Closing Thoughts
Links
Have You Ever Had a Silly Idea?
Quotes
“We read ingredients and a lot of mainstream chocolate had corn syrup in it or artificial flavors, and it was bullshit because chocolate is such a simple food. We decided we can probably go and make it simple. And I think I credit it because neither of us come from food so we’re not immersed in this crazy ingredient world. We were so simple going into it. We just believed that we could do it.” – Deric Calhill, (5:54)
“I’m obviously very entrepreneurial and capitalistic, and I love making money, but I don’t love making money so much that I’d bring my value system down in order to do it.” – Deric Calhill, (7:20)
“….because you put yourself out there when you start a business, when you post a video, when you try to write a book, you’re putting your soul on the line that says this is what I think I can be good at…No one successful is going to try to hurt someone else because they’re too busy being successful.” – Deric Calhill, (15:42
“If you’re going after perfection, you’re never going to start anything because it’s never going to be perfect. And whatever you start is going to suck horribly. It’s going to take you forever to evolve into something that’s actually cool…I was after perfection because it meant a lot for me to give this experience that I’d failed at so many times and give that to someone else at the very beginning of their journey to inspire them to go start something.” – Deric Calhill, (17:46)
A Wicked BOLD Conversation with Deric Halhill
On this very raw episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Victoria Dickerson chat with repeat guest and serial entrepreneur Deric Calhill, founder of Wicked BOLD, a company that crafts small-batch, all-organic vegan chocolate utilizing ethically sourced cacao and just four other real ingredients. Deric founded Wicked BOLD chocolate with his wife Brooklynn in 2019 after years of not being able to find a dairy-free chocolate. Now, four years later, Wicked BOLD has flourished and is being sold in Wal-Mart, Whole Foods, and Sprouts stores nationwide. Throughout the episode, Deric discusses his success on social media, the multiple books he’s authored: Zero to Side Hustle and Have You Ever Had a Silly Idea?, and how wealth doesn’t always mean that you’re happy or that you’re making conscious money.
Crafting Simple Chocolate
A self-proclaimed side hustler, Deric, and a lover of chocolate, Brooklynn, started WickedBOLD by spinning chocolate in their Texas kitchen from a machine they ordered off Amazon, and then selling it at farmers markets. At the time, Brooklyn was dairy free and it was almost impossible to find a chocolate that didn’t use dairy as an emulsifier. Therefore, they combined Brooklyn’s love of the sweet treat and Deric’s penchant for starting businesses to create WickedBOLD.
“We read ingredients and a lot of mainstream chocolate had corn syrup in it or artificial flavors, and it was bullshit because chocolate is such a simple food. We decided we can probably go and make it simple. And I think I credit it because neither of us come from food so we’re not immersed in this crazy ingredient world. We were so simple going into it. We just believed that we could do it.” – Deric Calhill, (5:54)
As far as the name WickedBOLD, wicked is a commonly used adjective in Texas, and BOLD is a combination of the Calhill family with the B meaning Brooklynn, the O for their daughter Ophelia, the L represents their son Landon, and the D stands for Deric. And the latest addition to their family Rowan, now has the trademark insignia covered.
Redefining Wealth and Prioritizing What’s Important
Although an entrepreneur at heart, Deric didn’t start WickedBOLD with the intention to get rich quick. Deric’s driving motivation was to ensure that his family is provided for rather than prioritizing profit. As someone who was successful in the corporate world but was unhappy, Deric has redefined wealth in that for him it means to make enough money to comfortably survive while not having to rely on anyone or anything.
“I’m obviously very entrepreneurial and capitalistic, and I love making money, but I don’t love making money so much that I’d bring my value system down in order to do it.” – Deric Calhill, (7:20)
Having the freedom to do what he wants and stay authentic to himself has allowed Deric to thrive on social media, specifically TikTok, where one of his earlier videos garnered around twenty-five million views. Having done stand-up comedy in the past, Deric is not afraid of attention, however that doesn’t mean hateful comments don’t have an impact. Therefore, utilizing his comedic skills, Deric does his best to use his platform as a “bully slayer” to give the power back to creators.
“….because you put yourself out there when you start a business, when you post a video, when you try to write a book, you’re putting your soul on the line that says this is what I think I can be good at…No one successful is going to try to hurt someone else because they’re too busy being successful.” – Deric Calhill, (15:42)
Lastly, after fifteen years of culminating notes in a Word document, Deric decided to compile them all into books with the intention of helping other people pursue their side hustles. Deric self published his titles, Zero to Side Hustle and Have You Ever Had a Silly Idea?, and both can now be purchased on Amazon.
“If you’re going after perfection, you’re never going to start anything because it’s never going to be perfect. And whatever you start is going to suck horribly. It’s going to take you forever to evolve into something that’s actually cool…I was after perfection because it meant a lot for me to give this experience that I’d failed at so many times and give that to someone else at the very beginning of their journey to inspire them to go start something.” – Deric Calhill, (17:46)
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